Vintage/Antique Chinese Sterling Silver, Gem & Enamel Hair Pin, Chignon Barrette

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Vintage/Antique Chinese Sterling Silver, Gem & Enamel Hair Pin, Chignon Barrette:
$148.00

Geo-Chic Vintage: Vintage Antique Jeweled Sterling Silver & Enamel Chignon Hair Pin/Barrette, Chinese Export

Vintage Chinese Export Silver, Gem & Enamel Chignon Barrette Form:hairpin, barretteDesigner:unknownPeriod:early 20th century, 1920s - 40sOrigin:ChinaStones:natural Persian turquoise, CarnelianStone sizes:(1) Persian turquoise: 14 x 11 x 4 mm (1/2\" x 7/16\" x 1/8\")
(2) Carnelians: 13 x 10 x 4 mm (9/16\" x 3/8\" x 1/8\")Carat weight:Persian turquoise: 4.51 carats;
Carnelian: 3.72 cts. eachMetal:sterling silver (.925 to .950)Width:81 mm (3 5/8\") the body;
91 mm (3 3/4\") the spearHeight: 14 mm (1/2\")Depth: 20 mm (3/4\")Weight:13.4 gHallmarks/Signed:SILVERCondition:good vintage condition, some mild crazing at inner edges of blue field

A delicate and colorful old Chinese barrette in a spear and strap form, the stick connected by a very fine silver chain. Handmade in sterling grade silver, enameled with a fish design, and set with two 1/2\" oval cabochons of luminous carnelian and a central 4.5 carat cabochon of Persian turquoise in robin\'s egg blue. The workmanship is very fine, as usual for Chinese jewelry of the early 20th century, and the detail especially remarkable when compared to any modern hair slide. It is a jewel more than a mere barrette and works with a chignon or a half ponytail.

Though made for the Western market in the early 20th century, and having a vague Art Nouveau feeling about it, it retains echoes of traditional Chinese styles, including the light blue enamel fields (recalling kingfisher blue), the careful setting of genuine gems (in pushed bezels with microscopic applied braided borders), and figural symbolism. The enameled side panels feature a pair of tiny lavender fish swimming in turquoise waters with lines for waves, scales, and tiny bubbles. A pair of fish usually symbolizes marital happiness, while carp in general indicate harmony, abundance, also strength of purpose. (Even this minor detail helps a bit to date this barrette, as koi only really evolved through selective breeding of carp into the popular brilliantly colored nishikigoi of Japan in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, after importation from China. Prior to their transformation in Japan, the Chinese carp were subdued in their coloration, being a solid silver-grey or bluish color. The lavender enamel was likely intended to represent the original blue-grey carp, which occasionally does have a purple cast.)

The only mark appears on the spear portion (shaped like a sword, with filigree wire end), and reads \"SILVER,\" as is commonly seen on late 19th and early 20th century Chinese export jewelry. Both the spear and body test as at least sterling grade, and the back of the body features a solid checker pattern stamped into the silver. The condition is very good, the only flaws being a slight bend in the strap portion, presumably from normal use, and an area of fine cracking or crazing to the inner portions of the blue enameled fields, nearest the stones, stable but mentioned for accuracy (see magnified photos). The enamel on the flared, fish-tail shaped ends is perfect and so delicate, in colors of bright blue, purple, and tiny dots of lime green, surrounded by a braided border so fine that it requires magnification to fully see it. Just try to find a modern hair pin made with that kind of care and precision! In quality, it is more akin to the elaborate jeweled combs of old. Certainly it qualifies as jewelry for the hair. If only there were more of them.

Shipping:

In the USA: Insured domestic Priority Mail is typically between $8.75 and $11.45 for up to 3 items of jewelry, though it can be slightly more, depending on values insured. All parcels must be insured or otherwise trackable. We only ship using boxes, no (we think, risky) padded envelopes.

International: E-mail us for rates to your location. International buyers are responsible for any customs duties levied by your respective governments. Postage is at cost, no handling fees, but be aware, international postage rates have greatly increased in the U.S., with little anyone can do about it. Because parcels can now only be sent by online-trackable mailing methods, a small box currently averages about $35 globally (6 to 10 days in transit). This can, however, typically include up to 3 pieces of jewelry. If considering a purchase from afar, please e-mail us first for a shipping quote on the item(s) in question to your particular location.

Combined Postage? We are always happy combine items. Combined postage is actual, based on the weight of the final parcel, and is calculated individually to arrive at the best possible rate. Combined shipping discounts require combined item payments. Therefore, for multiple items, please e-mail us before using checkout.

Payment Methods: PayPal
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We ship within 48 hours of receiving cleared payment. If greater speed is needed, e-mail us for Express Mail rates.

Payments must be received within 5 days of date of sale unless a delay is approved in advance. is fun but it\'s not a game. A winning offer entails a binding contract. If you are unsure, please ask questions until you are sure. Sellers are charged fees whether or not items are paid for and, if not, must file non-paying buyer forms just to recoup the fees. No one wants that.

Terms:

Any damage or past repairs known to us will always be noted in descriptions but, should a minor flaw or some small sign of past wear be missed, the buyer is trusted to understand that some inconsistencies of this sort are to be expected in a vintage piece, as part of the definition and appeal of authentic vintage, and do not constitute material misrepresentation. Unless specifically stated otherwise, all our items are antique or vintage and should not be expected to seem brand new. For purposes of e-sale, the placing of offers on items described as \"vintage\" or \"antique\" shall constitute acknowledgment that both vintage and antique mean that, almost without exception, an item has been previously worn.

Authenticity: Designer brands or signed pieces are always authentic and sterling silver and karat gold described as such are genuine, we guarantee it. We evaluate items rigorously.

Returns: If a refund is desired please contact us directly within 24 hours of receipt of the item. If we were in error (i.e., demonstrable material misrepresentation), refunds are of course in full. For refunds for reasons other than error on our part, we are forced to charge a 15% restocking fee, in order to offset our costs. We make every effort to exhaustively describe each unique item, combined with magnified photographs from every angle. Please read the description with care, examine all photos provided, and ask questions until you are confident about your decision.

Returns must be approved in advance, must be sent with full tracking, and must arrive in the condition dispatched within 14 business days. We cannot accept partial returns. To avoid lost time with issues of subtle color variation, as many shades appear slightly different depending on the calibration of each screen, we expend great effort to provide numerous enlarged views of every item. (Each object is unique; the one pictured is always the one you will receive. We have no duplicates of anything.) If hue or shade is very important to you, please e-mail us prior to offerding and we\'ll send you the corresponding OAC number and/or a digital color swatch with the hexadecimal color code(s) which, in our view, most closely matches the item in natural daylight. (Such are the color hurdles of e-sales but, with forethought, they can be cleared.)